CHAPTER 3

The very next day, in the late evening, she staged a convincing fall down the grand staircase. She hit her head hard and indeed lost consciousness, but when she awoke, she found herself in her bed, bruised and bandaged, but more importantly - 'amnesiac'.

The news of Meluna's accident and subsequent memory loss spread like wildfire through the manor. Servants whispered among themselves, and the Duke and his advisors held urgent meetings to discuss the implications. Meanwhile, Meluna lay in her bed, playing the part of the forgetful princess to perfection.

Within days, the news spread among the nobles and the aristocrats began gossiping and sharing rumors. "I heard the Lady also broke her leg." said a noble lady with her other friends, the other says, "And she also got a scar on her forehead!"

"Oh my, what a pity, for a beautiful lady like her."

They kept of discussion and gossiping about Meluna. Nobody ever suspected that it could be an act!

On the other side, the cruel Emperor, wasn't convinced by the news, he himself sent his man to confirm the information about the fact that now, Meluna is unfit to get married, with an excuse of sending her gifts.

A royal emissary arrived, bearing gifts from the Emperor - silken cloth, flowers and delicate porcelain. But everyone knew the true purpose of his visit. He was there to verify Meluna's condition for himself.

The emissary, a man named Lord Harrington, was shown to Meluna's bedchamber. He approached her bedside, a look of polite curiosity on his face. "Princess Meluna," he said softly, kneeling beside her. "I've come bearing gifts from His Imperial Majesty."

"His Imperial Majesty?"

Meluna asked, feigning innocence.

Lord Harrington, saw her wounded forehead but he wasn't convinced and kept interrogating her while Meluna kept up with her forgetful princess act, until the Duke appeared at the doorway.

"Ahem, Lord Harrington, it's not really appropriate to be in a Lady's room for so long, if you're done please kindly leave, you can have a discussion with me."

The Duke came to save her daughter from multiple interrogations of Lord Harrington and finally, Meluna could relax.

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When the emissary confirmed about the illness, Emperor stayed quiet but, he won't give up that easily. Because, taking back his marriage proposal would mean a sign of weakness, which the emperor hated.

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Meanwhile, in her private chambers, Meluna mulled over various escape plans. She considered attempting to inherit her father's mining fortunes, or perhaps even orchestrating a secret marriage to a man of her own choosing. She was so deep in thought that she didn't hear the soft knock at her door.

The maid entered, bearing a silver tray upon which rested a single, elegantly written letter. "Princess Meluna," she said curtseying low, "a letter has arrived for you, from Lady Isabella." Meluna, surprised, took the letter and dismissed the maid.

"Isabella? Who is Lady Isabella?"

Meluna asked, her eyes fixed on the elegant script. Mel, who forgot the original storyline was genuinely confused, while the maid thought that her poor lady couldn't even remember her one and only friend.

The maid answered with a sympathetic expression, "It's the old friend you've been missing so terribly, Princess. Lady Isabella was your dearest confidante in the palace. She's been writing to you, trying to reach out, ever since your...ahem...accident." Meluna's grip on the letter tightened, her mind racing with implications.

Meluna's heart pounded as she broke the wax seal and unfolded the parchment. The letter was filled with fond reminiscences of their shared childhood, of secrets whispered late at night, of laughter echoing through palace halls.And then, a phrase that made her blood run cold:

"I pray you remember soon, dear Meluna. For we must talk of the secret we share, the one that could still see us both ruined..." Meluna's breath hitched. A secret? With this 'Isabella'? A secret that could ruin them both.

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